Hospitals to be fined if mixed-sex wards not abolished

15th December 2010

NHS hospitals are to be fined for failing to end the use of mixed-sex wards.

The government is to promise tougher use of existing financial sanctions and will no longer accept bed or staff shortages as a valid reason for keeping single-sex wards. Governments have been struggling for 15 years to finish the practice of men and women sharing wards. In August health secretary Andrew Lansley said that it would be ended in all but accident and emergency and intensive care units by the end of the year.